Scarecrows have been used for centuries all around the world to keep birds away from our crops and gardens. Whilst they may have given way some what to more modern bird scaring techniques, the presence of a scarecrow in your garden can still be an effective deterrent and a delightful season addition. 

In celebration of our hardworking agricultural friend, at this year’s field days we will be holding a Scarecrow Building activity and competition.

Held on the lawn opposite the Fashion Pavilion, the fun starts at 11am on Friday and Saturday for the building teams. Wood for frames and straw for stuffing will be provided but contestants need to bring along the clothes and props to create their scarecrow entry. There are three categories for entries; celebrity scarecrow, humorous scarecrow and traditional scarecrow.

We encourage families, school groups and businesses to take up the challenge and let their imagination and creative skills create some eye catching entries.

 

 

Tips on making a Scarecrow.

Making a Scarecrow for the Garden.

The appearance and personality of your scarecrow is only limited by your imagination.

What do you need to make a scarecrow?

The frame:

•Frame materials will be available at the competition site.

• String, gardening twine, or nails and hammer.

The head and face:

• Old pair of stockings, old pillow case or calico bag.

• Acrylic paint or waterproof markers.

• Stuffing eg. Straw,will be available on the day

Hands and feet:

• Socks, old stockings/tights or gloves,

• Straw or bunches of lavender, or soft toy filling or newspapers 

Clothes:

• Clothes and shoes that you can spare from your wardrobe or visit the local

Op Shop.

Hair:

• Wig, raffia, straw, wool or bunches of lavender.

Headwear:

• Hats, caps, beanies, scarves, ribbons or tiaras.

Accessories:

• eg. glasses, scarves, hand bag, jewellery, imitation flowers.

• gardening tools eg. Old wheelbarrow (plant this with flowers, vegetables

or herbs), old broom, rake or spade.

• Stuffed toys eg. toy parrot to sit on the scarecrow pirate’s shoulder.

Putting your scarecrow together.

1. Attach the shorter wooden or bamboo stake

(arms) to the tall stake or broom or rake handle

either by tying with string or nailing them

together. The shorter stake needs to be attached

10-15cm down from one end of the tall stake or

handle.

2. Attach the shortest stake about halfway down the

tall stake/handle to form the waist/hips either by

tying with string or nailing it on.

3. Dress the scarecrow as desired.

4. If you want to stuff the arms, legs and body, tie off the ends on the

sleeves or pants and stuff them with the stuffing of choice. Attach the

waist of skirts/pants/trousers to the waist/hips with either string, tape or

staples. To stop the filling falling out at the bottom of the top, either pin

the bottom of the top to the pants/trousers, or tuck the bottom of the top

into the top of the pants/trousers and use a belt or string in the belt

keepers to attach them.

5. For the hands or feet fill the socks, gloves or feet of the old stockings with

straw, soft toy filling, old stockings or torn up newspaper. If making feet,

attach the feet to the bottom of the pants using safety pins or sew them.

Attach the hands to arms by pushing the hands onto the stake and tying

them on with string or taping them on with heavy tape. If using straw or

lavender for the feet or hands push this into the ends of the arms and legs

of the clothes and allow it to stick out. To stop it falling out tie some

string, twine or ribbon (or whatever suits the theme of your scarecrow)

around the end of the sleeve.

6. To make the head either fill the pillow case with stuffing of choice, or cut

one leg from the tights or stockings and stuff with filling of choice to make

a round shape. Tie the end of the pillowcase or stocking/tights off with

string. Draw or paint a face on the head and allow to dry.

7. Tie or tape the head onto the top of the stake.

8. Put wig on top of head or attach straw or lavender stems or wool by

taping, sewing or tying it onto the head or inside the hat and place the hat

on the head.

9. Decide where the scarecrow is going to stand and push the bottom of the

long stake or broom/rake handle into the ground or attach the scarecrow

to another stake driven into the ground. 

Other ideas for scarecrows:

• Use a straw broom upside down for the body so the straw becomes

the head. The face can be painted on or the eyes and nose made

from thin plywood or polystyrene and painted, and then glued or

tied onto the straw.

• Use a mop upside down in a similar way as the straw broom.

• Scarecrows can be made in different sizes to make a family of

scarecrows and use children’s clothes to dress them.

• Why limit yourself to people? Scarecrow animals could also be a

feature of your garden. A horse would look good or maybe a trusty

dog to join your scarecrow. Frames could be made from garden

stakes or bamboo poles and use wire netting to form the body. This

could be covered with straw tied or wired onto the wire, or strips of

material or lengths of wool tied onto the wire to give a shaggy

Shetland or shaggy dog look. Horses and dogs wear blankets and

coats so why not add some clothes? The heads could be made of

wire netting, or polystyrene (from boxes), plywood or thick

cardboard and painted. Accessories might also be the go for these

trusty animals.

…………your imagination is the limit!